Political Scene 5/6/13

American Legion Mountain Post 781 will host a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday. All Rice Township candidates have been invited. The meeting is open to all township residents and the public.

For information or questions, call the American Legion at 570-678-7105.

The Committee to Elect Joe Caffrey to the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board has scheduled meet-and-greets in the following Wilkes-Barre venues:

n Tuesday at Mags Half Time Pub, 288 Moyallen St.

n Thursday at the Chicken Coop, Wilkes-Barre Boulevard.

n May 16 at Cris Nics, Barney Street.

All events will be from 7 to 9 p.m.

Ashley Independent Democratic candidates will hold a rally at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Ashley Firemen's Hall on Ashley Street. Candidates are Joe McGlynn, Gerald (Gerry) Maldonado and Frank Sorokach, for council; Dale Evans, for mayor; and Robert Shoemaker, who is seeking re-election as tax collector.

The Committee to Elect Mark Singer Magisterial District Judge for District 11-1-04 will hold a free "Come as You Are" rally from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Colarusso's Café, 725 Main St. Avoca. There will be pizza and refreshments.

For information, visit marksingerfordistrictjudge.com.

Magisterial District 11-1-04 consists of Pittston City, the boroughs of Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown and Yatesville and Jenkins and Pittston townships.

Friends of John Paul Bonin, Michael J. Brown and Kimberly A. Yochem for Wyoming Area School Board will host meet-and-greets:

Friends of Magisterial District Judge candidate Jeff Kulick will hold a meet-and-greet from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Hughestown Hose Co. Cost is $10 per person. Food and refreshments will be available.

Magisterial District 11-1-04 consists of Pittston City, the boroughs of Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown and Yatesville and Jenkins and Pittston townships.

Magisterial District Judge candidate James "Red" O'Brien and the Blue Collar team will hold a "day in the park" from 1 to 4 p.m. on Mother's Day weekend, Saturday, May 11, at Jefferson Park in Pittston. There will be children's activities, entertainment and a cookout. Pittston city councilman Joe Chernouskas is chairman of the event.

Magisterial District 11-1-04 consists of Pittston City, the boroughs of Avoca, Dupont, Duryea, Hughestown and Yatesville and Jenkins and Pittston townships.

McGlynn is seeking re-election. The lifelong borough resident is married to the former Ethel "Rainey" Van LouVender, with whom he has two sons, Michael Jr., 18, and Matthew, 13. McGlynn attended Holy Rosary School, Pittston Area High School, Penn State University and Career Technology Center. He is employed as a class A-1 Laboratory Operator for the Lower Lackawanna Valley Sanitary Authority.

Shay, a first-time council candidate, owns and operates an insurance business located in the Dolphin Plaza on Route 315 in Plains Township. He and his wife Suzanne Rostock Shay have three children; they chose the borough 11 years ago to raise them.

Ameika is married to the former Kathy McGrail of Taylor. He graduated from Pittston Area High School and attended Luzerne County Community College. Ameika is an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam War and, before retirement, was employed by the Department of Defense. He serves on the borough's recreation board.

Balchune, born and raised in Duryea, has three grown children, Jimmy 31, Jason 29, and Jarred 27, two of whom still reside in the borough. Balchune is a graduate of Pittston Area High School and attended East Stroudsburg University and is employed by the family business, Balchune Construction, as office manager.

Longtime Dallas Township resident Patrick P. Musto announces he is running for a seat on the Dallas School Board.

Musto owns a family business, Tuft-Tex Flooring in Plains Township, and received a BA in English/Education from King's College. He is married to the former Valerie Hayden, a Dallas High School graduate, with whom he has two children who attend the Dallas schools.

Political Scene will run Mondays and Thursdays until the May 21 primary election. To submit information, email eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, call 570-821-2072 or fax 570-821-2247.

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